Contacting collection agency won’t add negative entry

Dear Experian,
I have an unpaid charge-off that I want to pay off. I've contacted the creditor showing on my current credit report but they advised me that they sold the account in 2011. The "sold to" company has never contacted me for re-payment. How can I go about paying off this debt and stopping the monthly reporting to the credit agencies? I'm afraid if I contact the "sold to" company there will be another negative entry on my report, in addition to the original creditor.
Thank you.
- BLD

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